Rides : Fifth Gear puts Audi RS3 vs. BMW 1M

In the last episode of the Fifth Gear, (Season 20 Episode 2) Tiff Needell and the ex-British Rally Champion Mark Higgins have put the Audi RS3 and the new BMW 1M on the race track.

So let’s see who is better…
The Audi RS3 is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine producing 340 horsepower and 332 ft lbs of torque. Power is transferred to the ground by all four-wheels using Audi’s Quattro system and a 7-speed S-tronic direct-shift transmission.
There’s no programmed torque vectoring.
Compared with your garden-variety A3, the RS is lower and has a wider front track, and its front tires huddle under specially flared fenders fashioned from beautifully finished carbon fiber.
The RS3 requires 4.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) and is limited to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). It starts at £39,930 (OTR).
On the same time, the BMW 1M has a 3.0-litre straight-six engine that produces the exact amount of power like RS3 – 340hp. The difference ( one of many ) is that the 1M is a rear wheel drive car. At 335 horsepower, the twin-turbo six is way out of the M3’s 414-hp league, but makes up the difference with stacks of torque from 1,500 rpm to 4,500 rpm, peaking at 332 lb/ft — 37 lb/ft more than the M3.
The car is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed. There is an M Drive button that activates a quicker throttle response program.
Anyway enough with the techy data … let’s what these cars are capable of …

Rides : BMW 1-Series M Coupe by Romeo Ferraris

One of the hottest cars of the moment, the BMW 1-Series M Coupe, just became even hotter, after the Milan-based tuner Romeo Ferraris gave it a “touch of exclusivity”, boosting its power from 340 to almost 400 HP.

The new BMW 1-Series M Coupe can be compared to the original E30 M, with every major tuner wanting a piece of the action and battling amongst themselves to offer new performance kits that take the small sports car to a whole new level.

The latest project made by the Italian tuner Romeo Ferraris gives the 1-Series M Coupe 52 horsepower more, boosting its six-cylinder, twin-turbo,, three-liter engine to 392 horsepower at 5.900 rpm and a peak torque of 530 Nm, available between 1.500 and 4.500 rpm, 80 Nm more than the standard 450.

The Milan-based tuner also fitted the BMW with an 85 mm high-performance exhaust system and the ECU has been remapped.

Romeo Ferraris didn’t offer a price for its performance upgrade of the BMW 1-Series M Coupe, but the kit might be one of the cheapest available on the market yet.

Rides : 2011 BMW 1 Series

The new BMW 1-series saloon, model F20, has arrived AC Schnitzer delighted to welcome it finally into the BMW family.
The 1-series by AC Schnitzer is already in AC Schnitzer development department. AC Schnitzer engineers, designers and technicians are working flat out on an extensive product range comprising performance upgrades, exhaust systems, suspension solutions, aerodynamic components and accessories for the interior.
Various wheel and tyre combinations in 18 and 19 inch and some more accessories are already available.
Type IV Wheels BiColor
front: 8,5J x 18″ with tyres 225/40 R 18
rear: 8,5J x 18″ with tyres 225/40 R 18
front: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
rear: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
Type IV Wheels Silver
front: 8,5J x 18″ with tyres 225/40 R 18
rear: 8,5J x 18″ with tyres 225/40 R 18
front: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
rear: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
Type VIII Wheels
front: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
rear: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
Type VIII Lightweight Forged Wheels
front: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
rear: 8,5J x 19″ with tyres 225/40 R 19
and also Racing tailtrim, Gear knob, illuminated, Gear knob with digital shift display, Aluminium pedal set/foot rest, Aluminium handbrake handle, Aluminium i Drive cover.

Rides : BMW 1M Series Coupe by AC Schnitzer

The German aftermarket developer AC Schnitzer has decided to give a small touch of exclusivity to one of the newest and hottest cars out there, the 1M Series Coupe, bringing in some new design elements and boosting the car’s power.

 

AC Schnitzer says that the new 1M Series Coupe’s six-cylinder engine is now delivering 400 horsepower instead of the “classic” 340 and it’s torque figures also went up from 500 to 560 Nm. But what is a power boost without a new racing exhaust system to improve the acoustics.

Extra power means extra time to stop the car so the German tuner also fitted the 1M Series Coupe with new brakes, six-piston calipers for the front and four-piston for the rear. For better handling and improved aesthetics AC Schnitzer’s new adjustable suspension has also been fitted.

According to the German aftermarket specialist, the improved 1M Series Coupe can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, compared to the “old” 4.9 seconds, stopping at its 300 km/h top speed.
The German tuner has also played with the car’s exterior design, upgrading it with new carbon fiber elements. AC Schnitzer didn’t release a price for the new kit but one thing it’s for sure, it will have some serious competition.

Rides : BMW 1 Series Performance Concept

 

Earlier this month, in Frankfurt, BMW revealed a new 2012 BMW 1 Series ‘Performance Studie’ to a select group of individuals.

Today, BMW has released the first official photos of the F20 1 series Performance Accessories Study. It’s a showcase vehicle used to introduce the new line of BMW Accessories for the 2012 F20 1 series. The front showcases an aggressive M-Sport spoiler with larger than usual air intakes . The sportiness of this model is also enhanced by the blacked out kidney grille.
Also present are the ‘love em or hate em’ performance stripes and a new Performance wheel in what looks like 19″ size.